Punjab polls: SKM constituents against supporting traditional parties, want farm unions to try luck at hustings, if at all

Ruchika M. Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 16

The farmers’ cause is far bigger than any political ambitions, and the farm unions should avoid going to any of the traditional political parties, in fray in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly elections. If at all, the unions should throw their own hat in the ring and contest the elections.

This was the feeling of majority of 22 farmer unions, all part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, who met at an undisclosed destination at Samrala in Ludhiana on Thursday. Of the 32 Kisan unions that are part of the Morcha, only 25 had been invited for the meeting, following differences between BKU Rajewal president Balbir Singh Rajewal and BKU Sidhupur chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal that has threatened the historic unity of 32 farmer unions of Punjab.

Seven constituents of the SKM (Krantikari Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, Azad Kisan Committee Doaba, BKU Sidhupur, Lok Bhalai Welfare Insaf Committee, Ganna Sangharsh Committee Dasuya and Jai Kisan Andolan) had not been called for the meeting, and at least three others reportedly could not make it for the meeting because of “prior commitments” and “felicitation functions” to commemorate the win of the year long struggle.

Interestingly, these seven unions held a separate meeting today. Jagjit Singh Dallewal of BKU Sidhupur told The Tribune that their meeting was not called to discuss the political scenario in the state or to extend political support, but only to chalk out the plan for their march to Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar on Friday, to pay their obeisance.

Sources say that among discussions on the scheduled meeting of SKM representatives with Centre on the issue of assured Minimum Support Price next month, the role of the farmer unions in the forthcoming elections was also discussed in the meeting of 22 Kisan unions called by Balbir Singh Rajewal. “A majority of leaders reportedly gave a feedback that the unions should not support the traditional political parties, as people are fed up with their inability to keep promises and misgovernance,” one of the farmer union leaders present in the meeting told The Tribune, while requesting anonymity.

Sources said the recent verbal public spat between Rajewal and Dallewal was also discussed. Efforts are on by some of the farmer leaders to soothe all “frayed nerves”, and ensure that the SKM does not split. A meeting of all 32 Kisan unions has now been called on December 18, at Mullanpur (Ludhiana) to resolve all issues and together take a joint decision on the political foray of the Kisan unions, Prem Singh Bhangu, president of All India Kisan Sabha.